COMMENT | A question of taste in regional culture wars

COMMENT | Negara serumpun kadang tak rukun (allied nations aren't always in harmony).

As we are about to touch on a sensitive subject, I apologise first if my words may have hurt you in any way. We have had some “cultural wars” every so often from batik, angklung, wayang kulit, tari pendet, Tor-tor dance and Gordang Sambilan with our Indonesian “neighbours”.

Occasionally, this rivalry can get heated, as when the Prime Minister announced to seek recognition of Bahasa Melayu as a second language by Asean. The proposal was quickly shot down by the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of Indonesia, Nadiem Makarim.